Excavated materials (rock and soil) from construction sites

What you must do

Material that you remove from an excavation will not normally be regarded as waste if:

• you intend to reuse it on your site and
• it is suitable for use as backfill and
• it does not need to be processed before it can be reused.

In such cases the material would not be subject, at that point in time, to:

• the duty of care for waste
• waste management licensing
• pollution prevention and control (PPC) regime.

If the material you excavate is only fit for use if it is encapsulated, it is likely that this will be regarded as a landfilling activity and may require a permit.

Diluting or mixing contaminated material with non-contaminated material on site is not permitted. If in doubt, you should consult with your local environmental regulator.

Resource Efficient Scotland: Construction materials exchange

WRAPNI: Industrial Symbiosis (NISP Network)

Further information

The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has produced detailed guidance for the construction sector. This is free to download.

CECA: Waste classification and permitting in construction

Hazardous / special waste

NIEA: Construction and Demolition Waste and Recycled Concrete

Waste carriers, brokers and dealers

Duty of Care: Your waste responsibilities

Pollution prevention and control permits

Waste management licences

SEE ALSO: Extractive waste from mining and quarrying